Friday, June 27, 2008

So I'm reading through Job, always a fun book, and although I've read it before, something hit me tonight.

A majority of the book, before God speaks, is simply Job and his friends bantering back and forth. They're trying to get him to either curse God and die or admit he sinned and let God end it (what wonderful choices) while Job is always maintaining his innocence.

But tonight I noticed something. In many of Job's responses, he basically says, "Why do you curse me? If there is something between God and I, let us work it out. Why don't you simply support me in my pain?" (loose paraphrase of the TV)

And it got me thinking as to how often we do this in the church. "If you simply read your Bible more..." or "Well, talk to God more...". When someone is in pain it seems like instead of identifying with them and acknowledging their pain, we tend to focus a lot more on spiritual "I told you so"s. Just a thought...

Another thought, this Sunday is the Fishers Freedom Festival Parade. Be watching for our float...

Monday, June 16, 2008

1. Touched an iceberg2. Slept under the stars3. Been a part of a hockey fight (does stopping one count?)4. Changed a baby’s diaper (I've helped)5. Watched a meteor shower6. Given more than you can afford to charity7. Swam with wild dolphins8. Climbed a mountain9. Held a tarantula10. Said “I love you” and meant it11. Bungee jumped12. Visited Paris13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (at really big lake...)14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise15. Seen the Northern Lights16. Gone to a huge sporting event17. Climbed the stairs to the crown of the Statue of Liberty18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment21. Had a pillow fight22. Bet on a winning horse23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill24. Built a snow fort25. Held a lamb26. Gone skinny dipping27. Taken an ice cold bath28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar29. Seen a total eclipse30. Ridden a roller coaster31. Hit a home run32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking33. Adopted an accent for fun34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (depending on how far back you go...)35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment36. Loved your job 90% of the time37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied38. Watched wild whales (they weren't there the night we went, just the night before, and after)39. Gone rock climbing40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach41. Gone sky diving42. Visited Ireland43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant44. Visited India45. Bench-pressed your own weight46. Milked a cow47. Alphabetized your personal files48. Ever worn a superhero costume 49. Sung karaoke50. Lounged around in bed all day51. Gone scuba diving52. Kissed in the rain53. Played in the mud54. Gone to a drive-in theater55. Done something you should regret, but don’t56. Visited the Great Wall of China57. Started a business58. Taken a martial arts class59. Been in a movie60. Gone without food for 3 days61. Made cookies from scratch62. Won first prize in a costume contest63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Been in a combat zone65. Spoken more than one language fluently (kinda fluently)66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone67. Bounced a check oops68. Read - and understood - your credit report69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did71. Called or written your Congress person72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge74. Helped an animal give birth75. Been fired or laid off from a job76. Won money77. Broken a bone78. Ridden a motorcycle79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days83. Eaten sushi84. Had your picture in the newspaper85. Read The Bible cover to cover86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about87. Gotten someone fired for their actions88. Gone back to school89. Changed your name90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands91. Eaten fried green tomatoes92. Read The Iliad93. Taught yourself an art from scratch94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language97. Been elected to public office98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care100. Sold your own artwork to a stranger101. Had a booth at a street fair102. Dyed your hair103. Been a DJ for one night at a friend's wedding104. Rocked a baby to sleep105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours106. Raked your carpet107. Brought out the best in people108. Brought out the worst in people109. Worn a mood ring110. Ridden a horse111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap112. Cooked a dish where people asked for the recipe113. Buried a child114. Gone to a Broadway play115. Been inside the pyramids116. Shot a basketball into a basket117. Danced at a disco118. Played in a band119. Shot a bird120. Gone to an arboretum121. Tutored someone (not in a bad militant way)122. Ridden a train123. Brought an old fad back into style124. Eaten caviar125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need126. Ridden a elephant127. Published a book128. Pieced a quilt129. Lived in an historic place130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage131. Asked for a raise132. Made a hole-in-one (only in putt-putt)133. Gone deep sea fishing134. Gone roller skating135. Run a marathon (not a full one)136. Learned to surf137. Invented something138. Flown first class139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite140. Flown in a helicopter141. Visited Africa142. Sang a solo143. Gone spelunking144. Learned how to take a compliment145. Written a love-story146. Seen Michelangelo’s David147. Had your portrait painted148. Written a fan letter149. Spent the night in something haunted150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane151. Ran away152. Learned to juggle153. Been a boss154. Sat on a jury155. Lied about your weight156. Gone on a diet (a diet doesn't mean you want to lose weight...)157. Found an arrowhead158. Written a poem159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox160. Gotten food poisoning161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission162. Been to the southern hemisphere163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks164. Gone to the opera165. Gotten a letter from someone famous166. Worn knickers167. Ridden in a limousine168. Attended the Olympics169. Can hula or waltz170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books171. Been stuck in an elevator172. Had a revelatory dream173. Thought you might crash in an airplane (the wings had duct tape on them!)174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert175. Saved someone’s life176. Eaten raw whale177. Know how to do needlepoint178. Laughed till your side hurt179. Straddled the equator180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival182. Sent a message in a bottle183. Spent the night in a hostel184. Been a cashier185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt186. Joined a union187. Donated blood188. Built a campfire189. Have a blog190. Had hives191. Worn custom made shoes or boots192. Made a PowerPoint presentation193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course194. Served at a soup kitchen195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube196. Know CPR197. Owned a convertible198. Found a long lost friend199. Helped solve a crime200. Fallen in loveSomeone else's turn...

Monday, June 09, 2008

This last weekend was kind of crazy. There was massive flooding all over the great state of Indiana. Pastor Mike was even stuck for a while, barely made it back for Sunday service (I'm glad he did, I'm even more glad he didn't stay at the hotel in Columbus he wanted to, the parking lot was flooded!)

So before service I'm praying with Cindy, our head of Stephen Ministry. Someone from that group always comes and prays with me before NewSong, and I'm so glad they do. Anyway, she mentioned in her prayer all the people that would not be in church that day. After, we were talking and we thought about all the people who would be in church that day. If you were watching TV or the news you would have seen that in all the flooding, most of the disaster meeting places were churches. Even our own church is a disaster meeting place, if something goes wrong and people need help, they're supposed to come here.

And it got me thinking. Isn't it funny how even now, thousands of years later, technology as it is, people all so "enlightened" that even now when a disaster strikes, people run to the church. Not the schools, the town hall, the safest office buildings, nope, we run to the church.

If only we could get the message out that it's not just for dire physical emergencies. Emotional trouble, spiritual disasters, even a place to meet when times are good so we condition our souls so there won't be a disaster. Just a thought...

Proverbs 18:10 ~ The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.Psalms 46:1-2 ~ God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in sea-storm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

For some reason I've been thinking a lot about typecasting, how we see someone do one thing and forever label them.

I guess it started when I was reading about Margaret Hamilton. Don't feel bad, I didn't know who that was at first. She played the wicked witch in "The Wizard Of Oz" (actually she played both of them, quite a feat). So after laughing about her name in the movie being Elmira Gulch (name your kid that) they were talking about how she wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. The problem was, every kid recognized her as the wicked witch and were scared of her. Even when she was quite old people would still ask her was she was so mean to Dorothy...

It wasn't real. She didn't do it. She was acting. And now forever people associate her with that one role. So do we ever do that to people? They acted a certain way once and forever they're black-listed? I know someone who is like that with restaurants. If they eat at one that's bad, the entire chain is out forever (our list of places to eat is growing thin).

Okay, one more. Jamie Walters (again, don't feel bad, I had to look him up). He was on Beverly Hills 90210, the original, not the dorky whatever-it-is remake they're doing. He was Donna's boyfriend who was abusive to her. Played the part well. Here's the problem, forever he was labeled as an abuser. He's a musician and people would come up to him after a concert and ask how he could be so mean to Donna. He was acting. I'm sure she survived, but even years later people still see him on the street and bug him about it.

It's so easy. Lorie's sitting next to me and asked about the people in constipation commercials or adult diaper commercials...